The public comment period for the updated Stormwater Design Manual is now open through April 30. Staff and community members are invited to review the proposed updates and provide feedback. All comments will help Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services consider diverse perspectives and strengthen the final manual.
Originally developed in 1993, the manual serves as a key resource providing engineering design guidance. It supports local agencies implementing stormwater measures, engineers responsible for the design of stormwater management systems and developers involved in site planning and design. Updates ensure the manual reflects current requirements, modern best practices, and an improved user experience.
Key goals of the update include:
To learn more and provide feedback, visit the Stormwater Design Manual Public Comment webpage.
Public Comments – City of Charlotte
My Take: Local government manuals tend to be updated on a regular basis. Often there are technology enhancements as well as legislative or regulatory actions that spur these changes. This particular manual is growing in its significance as we transition from a “green field” developing jurisdiction to a redeveloping community. Please take a look at the draft manual and provide your comments directly to the City of Charlotte using the link above. Also, it’s particularly helpful to me if you will email me your comments so I can collect them and provide additional support as needed.
In North Carolina, as in many other states, there is a statutory provision that is often referred to as a “homestead exemption,” that provides property tax relief for certain individuals. Because April is Fair Housing Month, it’s a perfect time to give you a deeper understanding of this very important provision that REBIC lists as one of our key areas of focus to advocate for better housing outcomes. We hope you’ll keep reading and learn.
Overview: The homestead exemption is designed to lower property taxes for homeowners on their primary residence. It allows eligible residents to exclude a portion of their home’s assessed value from taxation, which can significantly reduce annual property tax bills. This exemption is a part of a broader set of property tax relief programs available to seniors, disabled residents, veterans, and other qualifying groups.
Eligibility: Here’s how you can qualify for the exemption.
Benefits:
These programs are managed at the county level so here are links with detailed information from each county:
Mecklenburg County Iredell County Cabarrus County
Union County Gaston County Haywood County
My Take: Fair Housing Month was established to commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act. As we both reflect on the progress made, and simultaneously reaffirm our commitment to fair housing laws, I wanted to remind everyone of this tangible tax benefit; a benefit that already exists to support seniors, veterans, and the disabled. As policy makers in Raleigh consider changes to property tax rules, this is one they ought to consider expanding so that its impact can benefit more North Carolinians struggling to pay taxes on properties that have jumped in value, especially over the past few years. Even though it’s just one tool in our affordability toolbox, it is an impactful one. Especially for seniors wanting to maintain their independence a little longer and veterans who stepped up to serve.
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